Plant Details

Ceanothus americanus

New Jersey Tea

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Ceanothus americanus.

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Common names

11 names · 10 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (9)
Dutch
  • Amerikaanse sering
  • Herfstsering
French
  • Céanothe d'Amérique[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • latnatec americký[2]
Finnish
  • vitituoksio[2]
Russian
  • Краснокоренник американский[2]
Slovak
  • ceanot americký[2]
Spanish
  • Té de Nueva Jersey[2]
Ukrainian
  • Червонокорінник американський[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ceanothus americanus L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • New Jersey tea — VernacularName.tsv, line 167975; taxon RYP3.
[2] Ceanothus americanus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • New Jersey tea — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 129315; Ceanothus americanus.
  • Té de Nueva Jersey — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 129315; Ceanothus americanus.
  • latnatec americký — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 129315; Ceanothus americanus.
  • Краснокоренник американский — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 129315; Ceanothus americanus.
  • 澤西茶 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 129315; Ceanothus americanus.
  • Céanothe d'Amérique — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 129315; Ceanothus americanus.
  • vitituoksio — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 129315; Ceanothus americanus.
  • ceanot americký — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 129315; Ceanothus americanus.
  • Червонокорінник американський — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 129315; Ceanothus americanus.

General information

Scientific name: Ceanothus americanus
Accepted name (Kew): Ceanothus americanus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Rhamnaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Ceanothus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: New Jersey Tea
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.91–1.52 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Dense, Erect, Multi-stemmed, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Deep shade, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Tea
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Dye, Nitrogen fixer

Description

A refreshing tea can be made from the dried leaves of this plant. This tea is a good alternative to coffee from China, as it contains no caffeine. The leaves are collected when the plant is in full bloom and then dried in the shade.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Crown

Crown shape: Rounded
Sources [3]
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 743678; name ID 2706601; Ceanothus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1341659; name ID 2706604; Ceanothus americanus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ceanothus americanus

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5143711, ID RYP3: Ceanothus americanus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Ceanothus americanus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Crown shapeHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Crown shape: Description: crown architecture
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .